Hi guys. Do any of you know if Ivy Leagues look at your Freshman year grades? And if so, would it be okay if my grades showed an upward trend? For example, so far, first marking period, I had a:
-Honors Economic Geography: 86.00
-Honors English I: 87.80
-Honors Algebra II: 90.80
-Honors Business Principles and Practices: 94.20
-Honors Business Computer Systems: N/A (second semester)
-Italian I: 95.7
-Physical Education: 95.00
-Honors Lab Biology: 80.2
And then for second marking period I had a:
-Honors Economic Geography: 90.00
-Honors English I: 88.90
-Honors Algebra II: 90.80
-Honors Business Principles and Practices: 92.80
-Honors Business Computer Systems: N/A (second semester)
-Italian I: 91.9
-Physical Education: 98.00
-Honors Lab Biology: 87.3
Despite these grades I am top 5% of my school due to the difficult curriculum. However, do colleges even look at Freshman Year? Thanks for any comments!
The vast majority of colleges do look at Freshman grades, but the University of California system does not. An upward trend improves your chances at a college, but straight As would be even better.
The Ivy League schools are very competitive obviously. Everyone who applies has the hardest curriculum possible, perfect scores, straight A’s and a plethora of extra curricular activities/ things that make them stand out. And even these people aren’t a match with ivy schools because they are so unpredictable. But there are so many great schools that are considered “second tier ivies” that are great schools too and would probably offer you more money. I’m not saying you can’t get into an Ivy League school because anything is possible but keep your options open. Also keep up the good work your doing great, also make sure you get involved. Btw I’m pretty sure all the ivy league schools look at freshman year but like the person above said the UC’s do not.
If you are a freshman it is way to early to think of any specific school or group of schools. See how things play out over the next year or two in terms of grades, standardized tests etc. Always remember 1) Ivy schools are a reach for most everyone and 2) there is a whole world of amazing colleges and universities that aren’t Ivy League.
Move to HS life, dude your a freshman worrying about a post secondary institution. If anything focus on your actual classes because you won’t know what major you want to do (or at least apply for) in college because you are just focusing on Grades not the material now… Seriously unhealthy for your psychological state to obsess about college your 1st year of being in a secondary institution.
It’s not to early to start the conversation with your parents about how they expect you to pay for your education. When they’ve finished filing their tax returns this spring, sit down with one of them and run the Net Price Calculators at the websites of your own home-state public universities and a couple of other places that are interesting to you.
Study hard. Your freshman year grades won’t kill you. In order of importance, it’s Junior, Senior, Sophomore, Freshman. So don’t worry but don’t let them fall! From now all, aim to take the most rigorous curriculum and get straight A’s! You want at least a 3.75 unweighted GPA to even consider applying to any Ivy.
Also, take the ACT/SAT in the fall of your Junior year and start prepping the summer before.
Until then, don’t worry about college and get off this website. It’ll just stress you out.
Prep for the SAT before Fall junior year (PSAT = major scholarships). Dont go all ballistic on the prep though - light prep is sufficient.
Italian is not offered as a subject test very often, so figure out when that is - you’ll probably be taking it December senior year, for instance, meaning your SAT Reasoning needs to be done before then. And of course you may check into the ACT (with the new SAT around the corner for your class).
Make sure to keep English, Math, Science, Social Science, and Foreign Language every year, then add classes that are “interesting” to you - your ability to explain what you love about certain classes will matter.
Find activities that are interesting to you and devote time to them until you become a “specialist” in one of them, or a “champion”.
Princeton doesn’t take freshman grades into account and most Top 25 universities/LACs don’t weigh freshman grades much. They do affect your GPA though.